Smyrna times., 1887-08-10
A GAME OF BACCARAT.

ten by the passion for play. Intelligent,
of a good family, started in life Cnder the
happiest auspices and fitted in every way
for an exalted position, he had succeeded
in attaining it beyond even his greatest
expectations. Assuming Mt an early age
the full control of q business created by
his father, lie had given to the house, after
his death, a development that placed it in
the first rank Of COMMERCIAL industries,
and him in the list of milionaires.
At 30 years of age-that is to say, at the
proper age for maFTiage-he had taken for
his wife a MademOiselle +, daughter
of a merchant occupying like himself, a
high position in the commercial hierarchy.
His wife was beautiful and charming, and
D. himself handsome and with dis
tinguished air. Two lovely children had
come to bless this well assorted couple,
and it was not to be wondered at that he
was looked upon as man truly favored
by fortune
But there came a day when all this was
altered, and a terrible catastrophe fell
upon this fortunate and happy family.
One excessively hot evening as D., who
had already sent his wife and children to
the country and expected soon to go and
join them, leisurely descended the street
smoking his cigar, he passed before the
cafe OF the Boulevard MOntmartre Sud
denly he felt hand laid familiarity upon
his shoulder. II was one of his Oldest
and best friends, the advocate Z,
man Of considerable celebrity in the Pa
Tisan world.
but why are you alone on the boule-
gard}' T. demanded, after greeting
him cordially. "Are your wife and chill
dren out of the city?'
''Yes, answered D., land l am
walking off my ennui"
And /, as usual, am on my way to the
club. But what are You going to do with
yourself this evening?'
That l cannot tell you; perhaps 90
into the Vaudeville for a moment"
Don't think of it; renounce the idea
and spend a bachelor evening with ME"
cried L. ''We will 20 to the club to-
gether and will present you to some
friends. Do you agree5"
Willingly" responded D., and a
quarter Of an hour later they made their
entrance in the temple Of play, where
D was received with the greatest cor
diality.
stand, was by no means what is termed
a gambling hell;' nevertheless, they
played there for very high stakes The
advocate himself, one of those cool and
methodical men who preserve under all
circumstances the faculty Of knowing how
TO control their passions, played a great
deal, but without ever losing that pru-
dent calm which was the strong point of
his character. Moreover, he had been
well treated by fortune, for he possessed
the nerve not to ''force his luck' and the
patience to wait until the goddess changed
her mind.
L, however, had not brought his
friend to gamble, and only, after asking
his choice, seated himself at a table where
baccarat was going on.
''DO you know" said he at last, ''that
this is the first time you ever put your foot
in the cluby''
''Of course" replied D.; ''but now
that am here, I shall 20 to the end; one
game won't ruin me-" and he seated him
self at the table and began to play He
played, very naturally like all debutants
and beginners, and, to win back his first
loss Of 100 francs, left 10000 more in the
hands of the banker
1t was I O'Clock in the morning when
the two friends found themselves again on
the boulevard, still discussing the charms
of baccarat. NJ. D, delighted and in
different to his 10000 francs. animatedly
explained to L that his play was simi-
lar to moves he had frequently to make in
the commercial world; and that he had
really been compelled to risk 1000 to win
back his 100
''You are wrong" said the skeptical
lawyer; 'but there is no use arguing with
yOu. Nevertheless, / viii tell you this
play Is like certain wOmen-yOu may
safely make of it a pastime, but never a
passion. You must be strong enough to
resist its fascinations always; in short. YOU
must master it, if you would not be its
slave"
With these words the two friends separ-
ated, D returning Immediately to his
home.
The following evening, as NJ. T. got
up from the dinner table and prepared for
his club, the bell rang loudly and the
servant announced a visitor It was
D, who looked somewhat cmbar-
rassed
81 have not rejoined my wife, as I ex-
pected, y said he, and if you are going {,
the club again, why, have come +.
with you"
"Ah, hap laughed his friend, ''it's bac
carat that Is tempting yOu, is itY"
''No, no, not in the least; simply have
nothing else to dO.''
And this was said in a light and in
different tone, but T. was not de
ceived. Somewhat uneasy, ne took hi,
friend with him, as he desired but he alsC
gave him some new advice.
Vain admonitionsi for this evening
D lost more than 20, 900 francs
''Will you take good counsels" sal,
T. to his friend, as again they parteC
for the night; ''dO not play any more, anC
cannot conceal from you that I sincerell
regret having taken you to the club"
Perhaps you are right" D. re
Piled, and the next day he took the trail
and departed for the country.
But it was already too late. for whei
one puts his finger in the wheel the Who'll
body is bound to follow At the end q
eight days NJ. D could stand il n
longer, and made urgent business the pre-
text for leaving his wife and returning {
the city. He was heartily ashamed q
what he was doing, but all the same. rf
sistance was impossible. He took goo
care, however, not to seek his friend L
but, on the contrary, avoided hir
scrupulously. He did not desire to hav
him for mentor, nor to hear him r.
proaeh himself for having introduced hin
TO the club.
sin future, said D. to himself &
shall play according to my own idea; the
shall be sure to VIM
Unfortunately all gamblers think Il
same. The evening Of his arrival frol
the country, at the hour when Z wa
habitually at the club, D. spent Il
time in wandering up and down the boul
ward, going into cafe after cafe and loo
ing about him constantly, like a man wi
seeks for some one. At last upon d
terrace Of the Cafe Richie, he saw ee
teman, by whom he seated himself wit
out ceremony. 1t was a commercial ma
with whom he had frequently had bu
ness relations and whom he knew col
paratiyely well. Insensibly D. led {
conversation up to gaming and clubs.
Are you a member Of Ones' he ask
at last.
''Of course, p replied the merchant; 81
fOi, who is hot?ii
II, for one" D. replied. lauQhir
TO tell the truth I have never even Sc
one"